R-20 Single-Family District Regulations.
PURPOSE: The "R-20", Single-Family District is established to provide for areas requiring minimum lot sizes of 20,000 square feet in order to promote low population densities and establish or maintain a rural character within the subdivision. This district is appropriate for those areas exhibiting large lot development and maintaining a rural environment, and for newly annexed territory into the City of Grapevine.
USES GENERALLY: In an "R-20", Single-Family District no land shall be used and no building shall be erected for or converted to any use other than as hereinafter provided.
A.
Permitted uses: The following uses shall be permitted as principal uses:
1.
Single-family detached dwellings.
2.
Churches, convents and other places of worship.
3.
Parks, playgrounds and nature preserves, publicly owned.
4.
Agricultural uses subject to the provisions of Ordinance 75-25, Chapter 6, Section 6-2.
5.
Temporary buildings when they are to be used only after construction purposes or as a field office within a subdivision only. Such temporary construction buildings shall be removed immediately upon completion or abandonment of construction and such field office shall be removed immediately upon occupancy of 95 percent of the lots in the subdivision.
6.
Model homes and model home parking lots are permitted as a temporary use in new subdivisions, provided a notice is continually posted in a prominent place in a livable area in the home and the owner signs an affidavit on a form approved by the Director or Planning Services affirming compliance with all the regulations of this section.
B.
Secondary uses: The following uses shall be permitted as secondary uses to a single-family detached dwelling provided that none shall be a source of income to the owner or user of the principal single-family dwelling, except for customary home occupation.
1.
Off-street parking and private garages in connection with any use permitted in this district.
2.
Accessory dwelling unit. Refer to Section 42.C.6. for supplementary district standards related to accessory dwelling units.
3.
Cabana, pavilion, pergola, or roofed area.
4.
Private swimming pools and tennis courts.
5.
Secondary buildings (storage buildings, hobby shops, barns).
6.
Signs subject to the provisions of Section 60.
7.
Customary home occupation.
8.
Communication equipment meeting the requirements of Chapter 7, Article XIII of the Grapevine Code of Ordinance.
9.
Sale of merchandise or goods, including but not limited to garage sales and yard sales, shall be limited to a maximum of once per quarter, for a period not to exceed three continuous days. For the purpose of this paragraph, the month of January shall constitute the first month of the first quarter.
With the exception of Items 2 and 9, when any of the foregoing permitted secondary uses are detached from the principal single-family dwelling, said uses shall be located not less than 45 feet from the front lot line and shall meet the requirements of Section 42.C., D., E., F. and G.
All secondary structures shall be setback from side and rear property lines a minimum of 15 feet. Secondary structures greater than 10 feet in height shall be set back from the side and rear property lines 15 feet plus one additional foot for each additional foot of height over 10 feet.
C.
Conditional uses: The following conditional uses may be permitted provided they meet the provisions of Section 48 and a conditional use permit is issued.
1.
Public and nonprofit institutions of an educational, religious or cultural type excluding correctional institutions.
2.
Nonprofit community centers and swimming pools and tennis courts.
3.
Public and private country clubs and golf courses excluding miniature golf courses.
4.
Memorial gardens and cemeteries.
5.
Any off-street parking for churches, convents and other places of worship developed on property other than the platted lot of record of the principal use, provided all or a portion of the property utilized for parking is located within 300 feet of the platted lot of record.
D.
Limitation of uses:
1.
No more than three persons unrelated by blood or marriage may occupy residences within an R-20 Single-Family District.
2.
Storage of mechanical or farm equipment incidental to any permitted or conditional use shall be screened in accordance with the provisions of Section 50, Alternate B or E, from any adjacent residential development or use.
3.
Private or public alleys shall not be located in the 25-foot required rear yard.
4.
Subdivisions approved prior to December 4, 1984 shall be deemed to be lawful. These subdivisions shall have the same status as subdivisions authorized pursuant to this ordinance. Buildings, or structures, within those subdivisions may meet the requirements of Section 15.F., 15.G., and 15.I. of this ordinance, except no lot existing at the time of passage of this ordinance shall be reduced in area below 20,000 square feet.
5.
No storage boxes or any other containers to be picked up or dropped off by curbside self-storage services, moving services and other similar services shall be placed within a public right-of-way. Storage containers to be picked up or dropped off by such services shall be visible from a public right-of-way or adjacent property for a period not exceeding 72 consecutive hours, and not more than two instances during any 30-day period.
E.
Plan requirements: No application for a building permit for the construction of a principal building shall be approved unless a plat, meeting all requirements of the City of Grapevine, has been approved by the City Council and recorded in the official records of Tarrant County.
F.
Density requirements: The following density requirements shall apply:
1.
Maximum density: two (2) dwelling units per acre of gross area.
2.
Lot size: 20,000 square feet.
3.
Minimum open space: All areas not devoted to buildings, structures or off-street parking area shall be devoted to grass, trees, gardens, shrubs or other suitable landscape material. In addition, all developments shall reserve open space in accordance with the provisions of Section 51.
4.
Maximum building coverage: 40 percent of the combined area occupied by all main and secondary buildings and structures of the total lot area.
5.
Maximum impervious area: 60 percent of the combined area occupied by all buildings, structures, off-street parking and paved areas of the total lot area.
6.
Minimum floor area: 1,600 square feet of floor area.
G.
Area regulations: The following minimum standards shall be required:
1.
Depth of front yard: 40 feet.
A minimum of 50 percent of the area of the lot within the required front yard setback shall be a landscaped area.
2.
Depth of rear yard: 25 feet.
3.
Width of side yard on each side: 15 feet.
4.
Width of lot: 100 feet.
Except reverse frontage lots shall be a minimum of 130 feet in width.
5.
Depth of lot: 100 feet
6.
Minimum distance between buildings: 30 feet, between principal and secondary buildings on adjacent lots.
H.
Reserved.
I.
Maximum Height: The following maximum height regulations shall be observed:
1.
Principal structure: two (2) stories, 35 feet.
2.
Secondary structure: 16 feet.
J.
Off-street parking: Provisions for the parking of automobiles shall be allowed as a secondary use to any principal permitted use provided that such shall not be located on a required front yard. Off-street parking shall be provided in accordance with the provisions of Sections 56 and 58 of this ordinance and other applicable ordinances of the city.
Parking of recreational vehicles, recreational trailers, motor homes or boats (all listed hereinafter referred to as vehicles) is prohibited in the required front yard except in the following circumstances:
1.
Pursuant to a permit to park said vehicle on a paved driveway in the front yard issued by the Director of Planning Services (director), or a designee, after a determination is made by the director that it is not feasible to park said vehicle in the side or rear yard.
2.
For any length of time for all or any part of three consecutive days, the said vehicles may be parked in the required front yard on a paved driveway for three consecutive 24-hour days, or any part of three consecutive 24-hour days. For example, vehicle could be parked in front yard on Friday evening at 10:00 p.m. and all day for the next two days, Saturday and Sunday, with the authorized parking time ending at 12:00 a.m. Sunday night. Parking of the vehicle in the front yard for all or any part of consecutive Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, or any other combination of three consecutive days, is allowed. If the vehicle parked in front yard at any time on Monday in the example, the vehicle is parked in violation of this ordinance.
K.
Off-street loading: No off-street loading is required in the "R-20" District for residential uses. Off-street loading for conditional uses may be required as determined by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
(Ord. No. 84-16, § 2(A), 4-9-84; Ord. No. 84-73, § 1, 9-18-84; Ord. No. 85-19, § 1(A), 4-16-85; Ord. No. 87-39, § 1(A), 7-21-87; Ord. No. 89-53, § 1(A), 7-18-89; Ord. No. 93-16, § 1(A), 4-20-93; Ord. No. 93-50, § 1(A), 10-19-93; Ord. No. 97-119, § 1A, 10-21-97; Ord. No. 99-144, § 1A, B, 9-21-99; Ord. No. 2000-109, § 1, 10-3-00; Ord. No. 2002-27, § 1A, 3-19-02; Ord. No. 2007-55, § 1.B., 9-18-07; Ord. No. 2010-37, § 1A, 7-20-10; Ord. No. 2014-36, § 1, 6-17-14; Ord. No. 2023-094, § 6, 11-21-23; Ord. No. 2024-111, § 13, 12-17-24; Ord. No. 2025-054, § 4, 8-19-25)
R-20 Single-Family District Regulations.
PURPOSE: The "R-20", Single-Family District is established to provide for areas requiring minimum lot sizes of 20,000 square feet in order to promote low population densities and establish or maintain a rural character within the subdivision. This district is appropriate for those areas exhibiting large lot development and maintaining a rural environment, and for newly annexed territory into the City of Grapevine.
USES GENERALLY: In an "R-20", Single-Family District no land shall be used and no building shall be erected for or converted to any use other than as hereinafter provided.
A.
Permitted uses: The following uses shall be permitted as principal uses:
1.
Single-family detached dwellings.
2.
Churches, convents and other places of worship.
3.
Parks, playgrounds and nature preserves, publicly owned.
4.
Agricultural uses subject to the provisions of Ordinance 75-25, Chapter 6, Section 6-2.
5.
Temporary buildings when they are to be used only after construction purposes or as a field office within a subdivision only. Such temporary construction buildings shall be removed immediately upon completion or abandonment of construction and such field office shall be removed immediately upon occupancy of 95 percent of the lots in the subdivision.
6.
Model homes and model home parking lots are permitted as a temporary use in new subdivisions, provided a notice is continually posted in a prominent place in a livable area in the home and the owner signs an affidavit on a form approved by the Director or Planning Services affirming compliance with all the regulations of this section.
B.
Secondary uses: The following uses shall be permitted as secondary uses to a single-family detached dwelling provided that none shall be a source of income to the owner or user of the principal single-family dwelling, except for customary home occupation.
1.
Off-street parking and private garages in connection with any use permitted in this district.
2.
Accessory dwelling unit. Refer to Section 42.C.6. for supplementary district standards related to accessory dwelling units.
3.
Cabana, pavilion, pergola, or roofed area.
4.
Private swimming pools and tennis courts.
5.
Secondary buildings (storage buildings, hobby shops, barns).
6.
Signs subject to the provisions of Section 60.
7.
Customary home occupation.
8.
Communication equipment meeting the requirements of Chapter 7, Article XIII of the Grapevine Code of Ordinance.
9.
Sale of merchandise or goods, including but not limited to garage sales and yard sales, shall be limited to a maximum of once per quarter, for a period not to exceed three continuous days. For the purpose of this paragraph, the month of January shall constitute the first month of the first quarter.
With the exception of Items 2 and 9, when any of the foregoing permitted secondary uses are detached from the principal single-family dwelling, said uses shall be located not less than 45 feet from the front lot line and shall meet the requirements of Section 42.C., D., E., F. and G.
All secondary structures shall be setback from side and rear property lines a minimum of 15 feet. Secondary structures greater than 10 feet in height shall be set back from the side and rear property lines 15 feet plus one additional foot for each additional foot of height over 10 feet.
C.
Conditional uses: The following conditional uses may be permitted provided they meet the provisions of Section 48 and a conditional use permit is issued.
1.
Public and nonprofit institutions of an educational, religious or cultural type excluding correctional institutions.
2.
Nonprofit community centers and swimming pools and tennis courts.
3.
Public and private country clubs and golf courses excluding miniature golf courses.
4.
Memorial gardens and cemeteries.
5.
Any off-street parking for churches, convents and other places of worship developed on property other than the platted lot of record of the principal use, provided all or a portion of the property utilized for parking is located within 300 feet of the platted lot of record.
D.
Limitation of uses:
1.
No more than three persons unrelated by blood or marriage may occupy residences within an R-20 Single-Family District.
2.
Storage of mechanical or farm equipment incidental to any permitted or conditional use shall be screened in accordance with the provisions of Section 50, Alternate B or E, from any adjacent residential development or use.
3.
Private or public alleys shall not be located in the 25-foot required rear yard.
4.
Subdivisions approved prior to December 4, 1984 shall be deemed to be lawful. These subdivisions shall have the same status as subdivisions authorized pursuant to this ordinance. Buildings, or structures, within those subdivisions may meet the requirements of Section 15.F., 15.G., and 15.I. of this ordinance, except no lot existing at the time of passage of this ordinance shall be reduced in area below 20,000 square feet.
5.
No storage boxes or any other containers to be picked up or dropped off by curbside self-storage services, moving services and other similar services shall be placed within a public right-of-way. Storage containers to be picked up or dropped off by such services shall be visible from a public right-of-way or adjacent property for a period not exceeding 72 consecutive hours, and not more than two instances during any 30-day period.
E.
Plan requirements: No application for a building permit for the construction of a principal building shall be approved unless a plat, meeting all requirements of the City of Grapevine, has been approved by the City Council and recorded in the official records of Tarrant County.
F.
Density requirements: The following density requirements shall apply:
1.
Maximum density: two (2) dwelling units per acre of gross area.
2.
Lot size: 20,000 square feet.
3.
Minimum open space: All areas not devoted to buildings, structures or off-street parking area shall be devoted to grass, trees, gardens, shrubs or other suitable landscape material. In addition, all developments shall reserve open space in accordance with the provisions of Section 51.
4.
Maximum building coverage: 40 percent of the combined area occupied by all main and secondary buildings and structures of the total lot area.
5.
Maximum impervious area: 60 percent of the combined area occupied by all buildings, structures, off-street parking and paved areas of the total lot area.
6.
Minimum floor area: 1,600 square feet of floor area.
G.
Area regulations: The following minimum standards shall be required:
1.
Depth of front yard: 40 feet.
A minimum of 50 percent of the area of the lot within the required front yard setback shall be a landscaped area.
2.
Depth of rear yard: 25 feet.
3.
Width of side yard on each side: 15 feet.
4.
Width of lot: 100 feet.
Except reverse frontage lots shall be a minimum of 130 feet in width.
5.
Depth of lot: 100 feet
6.
Minimum distance between buildings: 30 feet, between principal and secondary buildings on adjacent lots.
H.
Reserved.
I.
Maximum Height: The following maximum height regulations shall be observed:
1.
Principal structure: two (2) stories, 35 feet.
2.
Secondary structure: 16 feet.
J.
Off-street parking: Provisions for the parking of automobiles shall be allowed as a secondary use to any principal permitted use provided that such shall not be located on a required front yard. Off-street parking shall be provided in accordance with the provisions of Sections 56 and 58 of this ordinance and other applicable ordinances of the city.
Parking of recreational vehicles, recreational trailers, motor homes or boats (all listed hereinafter referred to as vehicles) is prohibited in the required front yard except in the following circumstances:
1.
Pursuant to a permit to park said vehicle on a paved driveway in the front yard issued by the Director of Planning Services (director), or a designee, after a determination is made by the director that it is not feasible to park said vehicle in the side or rear yard.
2.
For any length of time for all or any part of three consecutive days, the said vehicles may be parked in the required front yard on a paved driveway for three consecutive 24-hour days, or any part of three consecutive 24-hour days. For example, vehicle could be parked in front yard on Friday evening at 10:00 p.m. and all day for the next two days, Saturday and Sunday, with the authorized parking time ending at 12:00 a.m. Sunday night. Parking of the vehicle in the front yard for all or any part of consecutive Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, or any other combination of three consecutive days, is allowed. If the vehicle parked in front yard at any time on Monday in the example, the vehicle is parked in violation of this ordinance.
K.
Off-street loading: No off-street loading is required in the "R-20" District for residential uses. Off-street loading for conditional uses may be required as determined by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
(Ord. No. 84-16, § 2(A), 4-9-84; Ord. No. 84-73, § 1, 9-18-84; Ord. No. 85-19, § 1(A), 4-16-85; Ord. No. 87-39, § 1(A), 7-21-87; Ord. No. 89-53, § 1(A), 7-18-89; Ord. No. 93-16, § 1(A), 4-20-93; Ord. No. 93-50, § 1(A), 10-19-93; Ord. No. 97-119, § 1A, 10-21-97; Ord. No. 99-144, § 1A, B, 9-21-99; Ord. No. 2000-109, § 1, 10-3-00; Ord. No. 2002-27, § 1A, 3-19-02; Ord. No. 2007-55, § 1.B., 9-18-07; Ord. No. 2010-37, § 1A, 7-20-10; Ord. No. 2014-36, § 1, 6-17-14; Ord. No. 2023-094, § 6, 11-21-23; Ord. No. 2024-111, § 13, 12-17-24; Ord. No. 2025-054, § 4, 8-19-25)